Talking Points: Is Aguero now City’s greatest-ever striker?

Just two of the adjectives you’ll find in Chris Bailey’s official match report on City’s 6-0 demolition of relegation-doomed QPR.

Where was the game won and lost? Here are five things we learned…

What more can you say about him?

Records seem to fall every time Sergio Aguero steps out onto the pitch at the moment and he claimed another with his fifth City hat-trick.

Kun’s opportunistic second goal was his 24^th league goal of the season - the first time a City player has hit that figure in the Premier League.

It was yet another masterful performance from the Argentine ace who won’t want the season to end – he’s now scored eight goals in his last five games, stretching his lead over Harry Kane in the race for the Golden Boot to five.

Many supporters in the Etihad Stadium were left in no doubt that the Man of the Match on the day can now be considered, (if he wasn’t already), the greatest striker to ever pull on a City shirt.

Still no place in the PFA Team of the Year though…

While his fellow striker gobbled up all of the headlines and snatched the match ball, it shouldn’t be overlooked that Wilfried Bony made a fine cameo appearance from the bench.

In a mouthwatering trailer for what could be in store next season, the Ivorian replaced Frank Lampard after 62 minutes and was at the heart of everything good about City in the final half an hour.

Utilizing his peerless strength to hold up the ball and bring teammates into play was just one eyecatching feature of this run-out – he also went close to scoring twice, smashing the foot of the post with an instinctive snapshot and forcing a good near-post save from Rob Green.

However, the highlight of Wilfried’s busy 28 minute showing was the sublime backheel which sprung the QPR defence and allowed David Silva in to round the goalkeeper for the sixth goal.

By his own admission, injuries have robbed Bony of a dream start to his City career but he showed on Sunday that he could be a decisive player in 2015/16.

The football wasn’t the only goosebump-inducing factor on a memorable afternoon at the Etihad…

Shaun Wright-Phillips was given a rapturous reception from home supporters when he came off the substitute’s bench with four minutes left on the clock and choruses of “Shauny Wright, Wright, Wright” soon followed.

The home supporters even gasped and clapped when Shaun had an effort on goal saved by Joe Hart – the new half-built roof might have come off the South Stand if it had gone in!

Four-time City Player of the Year Richard Dunne was given similarly fond treatment from a set of fans who never forget one of their own.

Granted, it wasn’t the most substantial defensive wall ever erected but take nothing away from Aleksandar Kolarov for netting a replica of his free-kick against Aston Villa.

The Serbian full-back has now scored four direct free-kicks in the Premier League, more than any other City player in the history of the competition.

On Match of the Day 2 on Sunday night, Mark Lawrenson argued that City are coming into form at the wrong time… you can understand where he’s coming from but yesterday’s win felt like a watershed moment – the wringing out of the sponge of 2014/15’s disappointments.

Eliaquim Mangala has now started four games in a row and looks to grow in stature with each appearance, Fernando and Fernandinho have struck up a solid partnership in the centre of midfield and Bony’s afore-mentioned cameo also provided optimism to sustain supporters through the summer.

While it must be taken into account that City were up against a visibly demoralised QPR side yesterday, Pellegrini’s side have now won four in a row, scoring 12 and conceding just twice.

With James Milner declaring that he expects there to be new faces arriving at the Etihad Stadium this summer in his post-match interview, plenty of those already here are stepping up in these final weeks to ensure that their positions remain without scrutiny.